Hi folks, I've been an AKTA user for probably close to ten years, and in this time I've also used BioRad and several other systems. I'd like to make a couple of comments since everyone seems to be enjoying this lively discussion :)
0. Choose the device for what *you* need. Some applications are equally easy on whatever system you choose, whereas others are very difficult on some of the systems. Having said this, I would argue that I never had any trouble programming the AKTA systems (Explorer and purifier that is, NOT the Prime or the FPLC) for any of the crazy multistep methods I've used. 1. For some reason, BioRad software was and is never really designed with protein purification in mind. Not to say that you cannot use it - with some training it's OK but the Unicorn software is intuitive from the get-go. 2. Unicorn has two faces. For the beginner, or for people who only use the system sporadically, there is the pre-made 'wizard' interface that is quite nice and robust. In my small opinion, the wizards lack elegance. For the pro, there is the scripting interface which is exceptionally powerful. Either way, programming an AKTA from scratch takes a couple of minutes. 3. I love AKTAS. But AKTA Prime is a waste of money. You can assemble a component-based system for much less money that would do the same sort of stuff. 4. AKTA Purifiers can be configured for about the same cost as competitors. I think the DuoFlow is still cheaper in the end, but its default tubing set needs to be changed to much smaller diameter to minimize the itnernal volume of the system. AKTA's come with thin tubes to begin with. 5. The first thing I do on an AKTA system is take out the internal filter. It serves almost no purpose except to annoy the user. I've passed honey-think whole cell extracts through AKTA with no filters anywhere in the system (important - no column filters either - they would clog up as well!) with no ill consequences whatsoever. Naturally, I wouldn't put a lysate like this on my $7000 MonoQ column - that'd be silly (I've seen people do this, and the result isn't pretty). Filter your solutions and everything would be OK :) Cheers! Artem
